Coping with NASAL POLYPS After my menopause, I’ve had sore gums. What can I do?
These are painless soft growths inside your nose, which can block it and cause complications
Achronic inflammatory condition of the nose and paranasal sinuses, these polyps cause slow, progressive nasal obstruction, with accompanied reduction in sense of smell. Polyps will look generally pale (yellow-grey in colour) and are not sensitive to touch, while the inner walls of the nose (called turbinates) are pink or reddish, and sense light touch. Polyps are usually on both sides of your nose.
Over a third of patients with nasal polyps also have asthma. Young people with allergic rhinitis can occasionally be misdiagnosed as having them. They are rare in children.
It’s not clear exactly what causes nasal polyps, but certain things can increase your risk, such as having asthma, hay fever or an intolerance or sensitivity to aspirin.
Nasal polyps aren’t usually serious but can keep growing and block your nose if not treated.
Symptoms include a blocked or runny nose, a feeling that mucus is slowly dripping down the back of your throat (postnasal drip), a reduced sense of smell or taste, or snoring. Sometimes they feel like you have a cold that isn’t getting better.
They may block your sinuses
(air pockets around your nose), and you may also have facial pain or pressure or headaches.
See a GP if you think you have got nasal polyps, have difficulty
‘See a GP if you have difficulty breathing’
breathing, your symptoms are worsening or you notice changes in sense of smell. They will be able to tell by looking inside your nose.
Initial treatments include steroid nose drops, or a spray, to shrink the polyps. Sometimes, you may be given steroid tablets for up to two weeks, to help relieve
symptoms – follow the advice of the GP about using your medicine and how long to take it for.
If there’s no sign of improvement after about 12 weeks, the GP may refer you to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist, who will have a closer look inside your nose to check for polyps. If they see them, they may suggest surgery to remove the polyps. Often surgery improves things, but it’s common for the polyps to grow back, usually within a few years, so you may need to keep using a steroid nasal spray after surgery to stop them returning quickly.
After seeing your GP for nasal polyps, a pharmacist can recommend other steroid nasal sprays that don’t need a GP’s prescription, or salt-water washes (called a saline rinse or nasal douche) to help unblock your nose. You can make your own salt-water wash to use at home.
Q AAs we get older, we may notice dry and burning sensations in the mouth, or sensitivity and pain in our gums. Research shows that up to 40% of menopausal women experience gum problems and a metallic taste in their mouth, and 28% of postmenopausal women are likely to suffer from gum disease within five years. Gum disease can cause redness, swelling, tenderness and bleeding of the gums, which increases the risk of tooth decay and loss.
Brush your teeth twice daily, and floss after eating. Keep regular dental appointments and see the hygienist too, ensuring you have no ongoing decay or gingivitis. Ensure your diet is well balanced, and consider taking a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement, including calcium and vitamin D. There’s also now a range of mouth rinse, gel and spray that contains hyaluronic acid, which boosts tissue healing by 50%, to reduce inflammation, increase tissue repair, and ease mouth pain and discomfort.